Rain Barrel Waterer System

[WonkierZulu]

You can try abs plumbing it is thicker than pvc. Might not prevent all freezing but should help with the frequency.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You can try abs plumbing it is thicker than pvc. Might not prevent all freezing but should help with the frequency.

Unless you have direct sunlight and high temps - ABS will warp under those conditions faster than PVC will.
If the &*%$#! birds wouldn't peck at it, and eventually destroy it, I'd say use PEX and wrap it in pipe foam to protect against UV - it will take a 100 freeze cycles or more without failure - but your pipe foam won't last a week, and isn't good eats for your bird. Running PEX inside a PVC sleeve (for mechanical and UV protection) becomes increasing difficult the moment you add a T or a elbow - its beyond the skillset of the average homeowner, and a PITA for the rest of us.

 

[WonkierZulu]

Built an abs system myself works pretty good no issues. Painted the water reservoir side white. The rest don't get exposed too uv. No piping should be exposed to direct sunlight to be honest including pvc. Abs has a wider temperature range than pvc. Abs I belive is more expensive also. Pex is a decent solution but can get expensive with fittings. As for the freezing probably circulate the water like you mentioned or get a water warmer made for pools.

 

[chickensahoy96]

Here's a partial view of the smaller of my two (smaller roof - each 1" of ranfall - which is the average around here per week - equates to 90 gallons of water)

View attachment 3113895
This is before the gutter system was hooked up, and the "automatic dog watering bowl" has been moved to now hinge on the wall of the goat house to make it easier to clean out.

The hose which supplies it comes off one side of the PVC T-fitting, the other side supplies a series of threaded T fittings into which poultry cups are screwed - so when one springs a leak, its an easy fix.

Not seen, the third side has another poultry cup, then a hose barb which I will sometimes use to fill a shallow bowl for the ducks or for other reasons. The end of the pipe has a threaded plug - unscrew it and the whole system flushes thru. OR I could extend the piping from there by screwing in an extension.

NOTE HOWEVER this is NOT freezeproof. PVC doesn't freeze well, and PEX, which does, can't take UV light. When I'm expecting protracted freezing temps, I throw the valve on the tank itself, unscrew the threaded plug att he end, and let the system flush out.

Why not use PVC hoses/pipe which are both designed to be exposed to the sun and a tank de icer for the IBC?

What I have is a 50 gallon drum with a watering cup rail attached by a flexible pvc hose on the tank with bulkhead fittings. I just installed a de icer and a circulating pump to draw water from the watering rail to the lid. This system lasts for a month with 10 chickens using water from my house and not rain which is not suitable for animal drinking imo. Filling up the water 12 times a year aint that much work to do...

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Why not use PVC hoses/pipe which are both designed to be exposed to the sun and a tank de icer for the IBC?

What I have is a 50 gallon drum with a watering cup rail attached by a flexible pvc hose on the tank with bulkhead fittings. I just installed a de icer and a circulating pump to draw water from the watering rail to the lid. This system lasts for a month with 10 chickens using water from my house and not rain which is not suitable for animal drinking imo. Filling up the water 12 times a year aint that much work to do...

There is neither power, nor running water, where I set this up.

That is why.